Brand marketing specialist Wild Thang and M&E building contractor Kimpton were both double winners at the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards. Tony McDonough reports

 

Liverpool Chamber welcomed 500 guests to St George’s hall to unveil the winners of its 2023 Innovation in Business Awards.

Bootle brand marketing specialist Wild Thang and Wirral-based M&E building contractor Kimpton were both double winners on the night which saw a total of 16 awards handed out.

Wild Thang scooped the Sustainable Business of the Year and International Business of the Year accolades while Kimpton triumphed in the Talent Development category and received the Chair’s Award.

Others receiving  awards included Brewery Bus Tours (New Business of the Year), Liverpool Empire Theatre (Experience Provider), Green Bell Packaging (Innovative Product or Service) and Ticket Quarter (Customer Excellence Award).

Two awards were presented for Business of the Year. River Capital won the award for companies with fewer than 30 employees, while Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine won the award for larger businesses.

There were also individual awards for Noura Qusairy (Young Person of the Year) and Alison Pountney (Leadership Innovation Award), both from the University of Liverpool.

Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber, said: “Innovation is at the heart of all commercial success. As this year’s awards demonstrate, it can be found in businesses of all shapes and sizes.

“We introduced new categories for 2023, such as Innovative Product or Service and Leadership Innovation, to accurately reflect the changing face of business innovation.

“There were high-calibre entries and worthy winners across every category and the evening was an excellent reminder of the spirit of resilience, creativity and foresight that embodies our city region’s business community.”

 

 

The Innovation in Business Awards 2023 were headline sponsored by Blok ‘N’ Mesh. Chief executive Simon Worsley said: “It was a great pleasure for us to support and attend the awards and share in the dynamism and achievements of our fellow local businesses.”

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The evening began with a VIP drinks event in the Concert Hall, sponsored by The Sovini Group, before a larger reception sponsored by ComCab Liverpool.

Other sponsors of the Innovation in Business Awards include Lexus Liverpool, MSP Global, Puzzleduck, DWNTWN Big Creative Events and The Guide Liverpool. A separate winners’ event will be hosted by Everton Stadium in early 2024.

2023 Awards Winners:

Social Impact Award, Sponsored by ACC Liverpool 

Winner: Employability Solutions  

Sustainable Business of the Year Award, Sponsored by Liverpool Hope University 

Winner: Wild Thang

Talent Development Award, Sponsored by Help to Grow @ The University of Liverpool Management School 

Winner: Kimpton

Customer Excellence Award, Sponsored by BT Local Business 

Winner: Ticket Quarter  

New Business of the Year Award, Sponsored by Wild Thang 

Winner: Brewery Bus Tours

Community Impact Award, Sponsored by Warwick Developments 

Winner: Big Help Project

Young Person of the Year Award, Sponsored by Kimpton 

Winner: Noura Qusairy from University of Liverpool

International Business of the Year Award, Sponsored by Quirky Digital 

Winner: Wild Thang

Experience Provider of the Year Award, Sponsored by MICT 

Winner: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Skills Provider of the Year Award, Sponsored by A&B Marketing 

Winner: Liverpool John Moores University

Innovative Product or Service Award 

Winner: Green Bell Packaging

Innovation in Health & Wellbeing Award, Sponsored by National Museums Liverpool 

Winner: Yoga Nation

Leadership Innovation Award, Sponsored by MTC Training 

Winner: Alison Pountney from University of Liverpool

Business of the Year Award (over 30 employees), Sponsored by Lexus Liverpool 

Winner: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Business of the Year Award (under 30 employees), Sponsored by ComCab Liverpool 

Winner: River Capital

Chair’s Award, Sponsored by Blok ‘N’ Mesh 

Winner: Kimpton